Moon to join Mars and Saturn in celestial triangle

FILE PHOTO - An LAX bound passenger airplane drops the wheels as it crosses the moon two days before the Full Moon and Super Moon passing over Whittier, CA., on its final approach to the Los Angeles Airport, on Friday, Aug. 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Nick Ut )

Utahns are in for a treat on Sunday, August 31 as the moon joins the planets Mars and Saturn to form a bright and easy way to see a triangle of lights low in the southwestern sky.

Patrick Wiggins, Solar System Ambassador to Utah, said the nearly half moon will be easy to spot even before sunset but observers will probably have to wait until the sky starts to darken shortly after sunset to see Mars and Saturn.

He said Mars will be the reddish colored, star-like object below the moon while the slightly yellowish-colored Saturn will be to the moon’s right.

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